Arrangement of two or more automatically operating punching machines in form of a cooperating machine set

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of at least two automatically operated stamping machines in the style of a cooperating machine set, which comprises a plurality of stamping machines disposed in one line and spaced apart equally from each other. A plurality of sheet supporting tables is disposed at a unitary level and a rotatable table is releasably inserted between each pair of adjacent of the stamping machines. The transfer tables connect a workpiece depositing station of each of the machines with a feeding station of the next following of the machines. The stamping machines comprise notching presses for the production of dynamo sheets for electromachines and disposed in series, and a separating press is disposed at the end of the row of the machines, the separating press dislocating said sheets combined during the passage of the preset notching presses into stator- and rotor-sheets and depositing the same separately.

United States Patent Inventors Roger Muller ARRANGEMENT OF TWO OR MOREAUTOMATICALLY OPERATING PUNCI-IING MACHINES IN FORM OF A COOPERATINGMACHINE SET 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 29/38, 29/564, 83/405 Int. Cl 823p 23/00 FieIdofSearch 29/563,38,

Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-Ernest G. Montague ABSTRACT: Anarrangement of at least two automatically operated stamping machines inthe style of a cooperating machine set, which comprises a plurality ofstamping machines disposed in one line and spaced apart equally fromeach other. A plurality of sheet supporting tables is disposed .at aunitary level and a rotatable table is releasably inserted between eachpair of adjacent of the stamping machines. The transfer tables connect aworkpiece depositing station of each of the machines with a feedingstation of the next following of the machines. The stamping machinescomprise notching presses for the production of dynamo sheets forelectromachines and disposed in series, and a separating press isdisposed at the end of the row of the machines, the separating pressdislocating said sheets combined during the passage of the presetnotching presses into statorand rotor-sheets and depositing the sameseparately.

ARRANGEMENT @il TWt) on MfliitiE AUTUMATEQALLY @fiilith'flihlt; PUNCHlll iG MACH-WES llhl TUitlt i Q1? A CtMiiiHiihATllhltG MACHHNE SIETThis is a divisional application of the copending Pat. application, Ser.No. 730,277, filed May 20, 1968.

The present invention relates to an arrangement of two or moreautomatically operating stamping machines in the style of a cooperatingmachine set.

it is known to combine stamping machines to a machine set, which forms aunit closed in itself, in which then a plurality of stations to bepassed by a workpiece are provided. A typical example for this knowncombination of stamping machines is formed by the so called transfernotching presses. This relates to an automatically operating machine,which is rigidly combinecl to part machines adapted relative to eachother.

in this automatic machine, the raw workpiece, for instance a round, isfed in a feeding station into a first working station in which statorslots are punched.

Thereafter, the workpiece is fed from a corresponding device to the nextoperating station, in which the stator and the rotor are separated fromeach other. The following station forms the depositing station for thestator sheets and can be equipped, under circumstances, with a readinessmagazine, while a next depositing station is provided for the deposit ofthe rotor sheets and can likewise be equipped with a readiness magazine.If instead of these mentioned five stations, a transfer automaticmachine with six stations is produced, then after the separation anddepositing of the stator sheets, a further working station can beprovided, in which the rotor sheets prior to their deposit are groovedin the following depositing station.

Due to its relatively great, voluminous and complicated structure, themanufacturing costs for transfer notching presses are extremely great.The advantage of such automatic machines is, on the other hand,relatively slight, because they are capable of performing only onesingle operation. They form, therefore, relatively seldom usable specialmachines, the application of which is advantageous and economical onlyin exceph'onal cases.

in the industry, generally one must assume a frequent change of theoperations to be performed by stamping machines. This applies also tothe known notching presses, which, contrary to the transfer automaticmachines, have only one stamping station. in the interest of a possiblymultiple usable machine equipment and low purchasing cost in thepractice genermly a plurality of stamping machines are provided and setup, which are different as to their output, which are chosen such, thata possibly great working program, which may be required, can be covered.By corresponding additional devices such individual stamping machinescan be transformed into notching presses, however, the machines canthereby operate noneconomically only, because individual alreadymentioned operating steps cannot be performed during groove stamping andproduction of statorand rotor-sheets for electrornachines in one singlemachine, so that a complicated and cumbersome transportation of theworkpieces from one machine to another is required.

it is one object of the present invention to provide an arrangement oftwo or more automatically operating stamping machines in the style of acooperating machine set, wherein the drawbacks set forth above of theknown transfer notching presses are avoided, as well as the drawbacks ofthe known application of individual machines.

it is another object of the present invention to provide an arrangementof two or more automatically operating stamping machines in the style ofa cooperating machine set, wherein the stamping machines are disposed ina line at equal relative distances and with sheet depositing tablesarranged at a unitary level and wherein into the gaps between adjacentmachines rotatable transfer tables are removably inserted, which conmeetthe workpiece depositing stanion of a machine with the feeding stationof the next following machine.

by this arrangement, it is brought about that by removal of the transfertable between two adjacent machines in accordance with the requirement,a separation of the arrangement can be obtained very easily and simply.Accordingly, the two stamping machines, which were combined by thetransfer table, are independently from each other and individuallyoperated. The transfer table forms a coupling member to which, on theother hand, during performance of complicated operations, the machinesset up in one line are combined to a unitary machine set, which is inthe position to perform the above-mentioned plurality of workingoperations in several stations, if, for instance, dynamo sheets are tobe produced. The arrangement of sheet receiving tables takes place at aunitary height or level and the transfer tables form during their usefor connection of adjacent stamping machines disposed in one line forthe previous machines the depositing station, for the next followingmachine the feeder station. in comparison to the known transfer notchingpresses, in the novel arrangement of the stamping machines the costs forthe purchase of the required machines themselves as well as for thetransfer tables stand in an appreciably more favorable ratio totheobtainable advantage, as well as to the obtainable versatility.

A very appreciable further advantage of the arrangement according to thepresent invention can be obtained in a further development of thepresent invention such, that stamping machines of different output andsize can be combined, if the transfer tables are equipped with stackingmagazines for the workpieces.

With this further embodiment of the arrangement, the advantage isbrought about, that the purchase of the stamping machines, which are tobe set up in a line and which can be combined by means of the rotarytables to a cooperating machine set, can be chosen such, that, as hasbeen set forth above, a possibly great range of different stampingoperations can be performed. This means, that no care has to be taken,that all stamping machines have a unitary size or working output. Theeconomy of the individual machines, as well as of the entire machine setformed by the arrangement of the individual machine, rises therebyappreciably, by the fact that due to the suitably adjusted output andsize of the prevailing machine to the working operation to be performedan extensive complete exploitation can be obtained. The stackingmagazines with which the transfer tables are equipped, take care, thatalso during operation in the arrangement no attention has to be paid tothe fact, that all machines with the same working speed are operated,since due to the stacking magazines buffer stations are created, whichbalance out the different working speeds of the machines.

A possibly multiple working program is obtained by a further developmentof the arrangement of the present invention such, that stamping machineswith one machine only and/or machines with two workpiece depositingstations are arranged in a line, whereby in case of machines with twodepositing stations, one of these stations is either put to rest or isconnected by means of the rotatably transfer table with additionallycrosswise arranged machines. in case of such arrangement, the situationoccurs, that in machines with two workpiece depositing stations, one ofthese stations is provisionally brought to rest during combination ofthese machines to a unitary working machine set. it is, however, thegreat advantage obtained, that upon removal of the transfer table, whichcauses the connection of the individual machines to a machine set, andindividual stamping machine with two depositing stations is present,which can be operated within far limits individually. I

if the individual stamping machines combined in accordance with thearrangement of the present invention are used particularly frequently inform of a machine set for the production of the dynamo sheets forelectromachines, then particular advantages can be brought about such,that notching presses for the production of dynamo sheets forelectrornachines are arranged in form of a line, while at the end of therow of machines a separating press is provided, which divides thesheets, combined during passing of the preset notching presses intostatorand rotor-sheets and deposits the latter separately. Thisarrangement is not only of advantage in view of the production of dynamosheets, since a separating press can be applied in a multiple manner toother punching tasks, if by removal of the transfer table to the presetnotching press, care is taken that the separating press is separatedfrom the other machines of the arrangement.

In case of the arrangement in accordance with the present invention ofstamping machines in form of a cooperating machine set and in particularthen, when greater numbers of machines are combined in the arrangement,an advantage, not mentioned until now, can be obtained such, that byremoval of only one single transfer table at the suitable point from thelarge machine set comprising many individual machines, undercircumstances, two arrangements with a lesser number of combinedindividual machines can be created. The new arrangement permits a greatnumber of diversifications and forms therefore the presumption for anearly complete economical exploitation of each stamping machinebelonging individually to the arrangement.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FiG. 1 is a top plan view of an arrangement of two stamping machines ofdifierent size and fon'ned as notching presses;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, shown schematically, of two notching pressesof equal size; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an arrangement of two notching presses ofequal size and a separating press.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, two stampingmachines 1 and 2 of different size fonned as notching presses aredisposed. Both are set up in a line next to each other, whereby care istaken, that the sheet receiving tables of both machines have a unitarylevel, in spite of the fact that the size or the output of the twomachines 1 and 2 is different.

Both stamping machines 1 and 2 are equipped with a feeder station la and20, respectively, a working station 1b and 2b, respectively, a firstdepositing station and 2c, respectively, and a second depositing station1d and 2d, respectively. In both stamping machines 1 and 2 combined inan arrangement, as shown in FIG. 1, a rotatable transfer table 3 servesthe connection of the two machines. It takes from the depositing station1d of the stamping machine 1 rounds 4 which are obtained in case ofstator slots, which is performed in the working station 1b of thestamping machine 1, while the complete stator sheets 5 are deposited inthe depositing station 1c. The rotor rounds 4 received from therotatable transfer table 3 are fed from the latter to the feedingstation 2a of the stamping machine 2, pass there the working station 2band are deposited into the depositing station 2c. The depositing station2d of the stamping machine 2 is not required in this shown machinestructure.

In the machines I and 2 shown in FIG. 1, the arrangement of two equalmachine types, however, machines of different output are formed.Deviating from the shown embodiment of the arrangement machines 1 and 2can also be combined, which are equipped with readinessor stackingmagazines 6, equipped in the feeding and depositing station,respectively. An example therefor shows, for instance, the arrangementof stamping machines disclosed in FIG. 2. The numerals applied in FIG. 2correspond with those applied in FIG. 1. In summary, in the arrangementin accordance with FIG. 2, two stamping machines 7, equal as to outputand type, are set up, whereby the machines are set up as in thearrangement of FIG. I, such that they form one row. It is, however, asshown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, not a presumption, that the workingstations of the prevailing machines, combined in an arrangement to amachine set, are provided in one line, rather it is essential, that froma depositing station of the one machine to the depositing station of thealways following machine, a straight line connection is possible, thatmeans, the feeding stations and the depositing stations, respectively,to be connected by means of the transfer table 3 must be flush relativeto each other In the arrangement in FIG. 2, the second machine isequipped with an index line having the numeral 7' for a betterdistinction. All stations carry a corresponding prime.

In the arrangement which is disclosed in FIG. 2, the sheets aretransferred from a feeding station 7a into the working station 7b of themachine 7, and from the working station 7b of the machine 7 and from theworking station 719 in the example stator sheets are deposited in thedepositing station 7c, while rotor sheets are released in the depositstation 711 to the transfer table 3. The latter guides the stator sheetsfor forming the slots, upon perfonning a rotation of 180 to the feedingstation 7a of the stamping machine 7' which, in turn, performs in thestation 7b the slotting of the rotor sheets and their deposition in thedepositing station 7c. The station 7d is not used in the present exampleof the arrangement of two stamping machines 7 and 7.

However, all depositing and feeding stations not charged by the rotarytable of the two machines 7 and 7' are prepared by stacking anddepositing magazines 6 for receiving a greater number of workpieces.

In FIG. 3 a further example for an arrangement of a plurality ofstamping machines in form of a cooperative machine set is disclosed. Inthis arrangement, two equal stamping machines 8 and 8, as well as aseparating press 9 are combined to a machine set. For the coupling ofrotatable transfer tables 3, which can perform rotary steps for 180stepwise and successively, serve the individual machines 8 and 8 inwhich relative to the numerals the same principle has been applied as inconnection with FIG. 2. In the stamping machine 8 and 8 and theseparating press 9 the tool reception and deposit tables are arranged atan equal height. The stamping machines 8 and 8' are arranged in a rowadjacent each other, on which in the same distance, however, in anangular position the separating press 9 is joined. Essential in thisarrangement is, however, as has been set forth above, that a depositingstation of one machine is flush with the feeding station of the nextmachine and that the centerlines of these two stations form a straightline, respectively.

During the production of dynamo sheets for electromachines, thearrangement shown in FIG. 3 operates in the following manner:

In the feeding station 8a rounds are inserted in one working station 8band the stator slots are stamped out. The rounds are thereafter releasedin the depositing station 8c to the transfer table 3, while the seconddepositing station 8d remains unused. The transfer table 3 transfers theworkpieces equipped with stator slots to the feeding station of thesecond stamping machine 8' of this arrangement, which equips theworkpieces in the working station 8b now additionally also with rotorslots. In the depositing station 8c of this stamping machine theworkpieces are transferred to a further rotatable transfer table 3,which performs the further transportation of all workpieces to thefollowing separating press 9. The second depositing station 8b of thisstamping machine 8 remains unused. In the separating press 9, theworkpieces, which are fed by the rotary table 3 thereto, are received inthe feeding station 9a and in the working station 9b in such manner thatstator and rotor are separated from each other.

In the depositing station 9c of the separating press 9, for instance,the stator sheets are piled up and mounted in layer form over eachother, while the rotor sheets pass through the depositing table and arecollected separately.

in the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 3, stacking magazines are notprovided. It should be emphasized however, that in all FIGS. 13 shownexamples of arrangements of two or more stamping machines to acooperative machine set, stacking magazines can be used at any time. Theadvantage results thereby that the working rhythm of the individualmachines combined to an arrangement can be different, since the stackingmagazines balance out such differences by temporary reception and againrelease, if required, of the work pieces.

said transfer tables connected a workpiece depositing station of each ofsaid machines with a feeding station of the next following of saidmachines;

said stamping machines comprising notching presses for the production ofdynamo sheets for electromachines and disposed in series; and

a separating press disposed at the end of the row of said machines, saidseparating press dislocating said sheets combined during the passage ofsaid preset notching presses into statorand rotor-sheets and depositingthe same separately.

1. An arrangement of at least two automatically operated stampingmachines in the style of a cooperating machine set, comprising: aplurality of stamping machines disposed in one line and spaced apartequally from each other; a plurality of sheet supporting tables disposedat a unitary level; a rotatable transfer table releasably insertedbetween each pair of adjacent of said stamping machines; said transfertables connected a workpiece depositing station of each of said machineswith a feeding station of the next following of said machines; saidstamping machines comprising notching presses for the production ofdynamo sheets for electromachines and disposed in series; and aseparating press disposed at the end of the row of said machines, saidseparating press dislocating said sheets combined during the passage ofsaid preset notching presses into stator- and rotor-sheets anddepositing the same separately.